The use of an organization's tax filing, in this case the 990, as a resource for donors is a helpful observation. Passion for the cause should always come first, of course. But making sure the organization can sustain itself is a good next step.

Watching charities is a necessary government function because, while rare, there's an occasional bad charity, and any number of charities whose activities may deserve occasional scrutiny. The first step in this process is requiring the charities to register with the...